Sensing apparatus



Aug. 10, 1943. E. s.' I ARsoNV ET AL sENsIN-APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1941 F l G. 1

Y Patented Aug. 10, 1943 Edward S'. Larson, Chicago; and dwin J. Skepp-f` u Y strom., ParkRidge, Ill.,V assignors to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill.,

Delaware s I a `corporation of Application March s, 194i, serial No. 381,416 11u claims. (cifijvsjAt) Y.

The present invention relates to Vtelegraph transmission apparatus and particularly to tape sensing mechanisms therefor.l

ln automatic telegraphy, tape controlled telegraph transmitting devices are Vemployed in which codecombinations o'f-perforations'are installed transversely'and successively on a continuoustape cr form. A setof sensing elements senses the transverseareas of Asaid tape to determine the presence or absence of a perforation in each position in the tape and in accordance with the iinding of each sensing element of perforations an associated contact is conditionedv thereby preparing for the generationrof acorder combination signal having thepermutationcharacteri'sticsof the perforations in said tape.

' Under the practice of form preparation taught in U. S. copending application SerialrNo. 274,811 filed May 20, 1939, theinstallation of code markings in a control form consists in incising of the tape with small part-circularincisions'so as to leave attached to the mainV bodyl of the tape those4 portions which, in f accordance with a previous practice; had been severed completely. Thus, effectively there ismaintained wholelthe entire surface areajof the tape. u'lhismannerof` tape'preparation has been developed orthe purnany the fuuiength bf the backing area but which aord no transverseinterference with the passage-of the tape or formlids. Since 4these lids `are'moved upwardly by the action' of :the

Y invention; Y u Fig.r -2 isa'p'erspective detailed View of an iml u proved hold-down plate such as may be used in pose of` affording surface printing areas Aon the tape to carry information collateral to that con-` veyed'by the code perforations.`

" Accordingly, a principaltobject/of the present invention is an apparatus for` sensing lidded aperture control forms under conditionsof high speed telegraph transmission without incurring interference bythe aperture lids with' mecha# nism which is' active in the sensingvor advancee Y ment of the control forms. Y u In order to avoid interference between lidded aperture tape and conventional sensing mecha# nism, such as is utilized in connection with auto- `matic telegraph transmitters and to accomplish the object of invention, itis proposed to provide a hold-down member or backing device which will not interfere with the attached lids of" control forms prepared in accordance withl the above-mentioned copending applicatiorLf This improvementv is obtained by the provision of a` tape backing plate having continuous elongated' slots that extend throughout the entire length of that portion ofthe backing plate which serves as a pressure member lfor holding the form against the upper surface of the tape sensing table, so that intervening adjacent areas where'- in the tape lids occur thereA will be presented;

holddown Vformationswhich extend longitudi# sensing fingers, they may or may not return to the original condition after the form has passed beyond the immediate region of the tape sensing operation. I H VVFor a` more comprehensive understanding of the present invention, V-reference'may be had to the following detailed specication 'and to the accompanying drawing in which similar'rreference characters designatev corresponding parts hroughout and in which:

' Fig. '1 is a transverse sectional view through atypical tape sensing apparatus having applied thereto aV preferred embodiment of the'present practicing the present invention; Y

f Fig. 3 is an enlarged' detailed view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 illustrating effectively Va condition of operation'when lidded aperture tapeV lis used in connection withthe preferred embodiment of Fig.'1; and -V i Fig. 4is` alfragmentary plan view of a section of tape or control formi prepared in accordance with a signalV component incising method which leaves attached to the main body ofthe form semicircular lids, flaps',I or tongues that may be deflected when encountered by the probing pins of a sensing apparatus.-

Referring nowmore particularly to the accompanying drawing, the reference character II designates one of aset of similarly prol'ed feeler f levers whichare pivoted on ak common shaft I2 and which'inthe instant illustration are'comprised of? three principal arm extensions designated I3, I4. and I5. Extending upwardly from theend of the several feeler lever arms I5 are a set of feeler or probingpins I6 of small diameter so that Vthey may `easily be received within the openings "of aV control `form Il after the manner,

illustratedvin Fig. 3. I I

Each feeler lever lil is'urged ina counterclockwise direction Vaboutv the common pivot shaft I2 through" the iniiuence of an individually associated spring I8; One end ofV each spring I 8 is anchoredto a tie plate I9 while its upper end is secured Yto an individual ear 2I carried upon the arm I3 of Veach sensing lever' II. Also carried by each one of said armsrIS is a contactor 22` which is capablemof engaging one or the other of a pair of contact screws 23 or lM'which are re-- 1 screws 24.

spectively connected to various sources of current supply such as positive and negative, current and no-current, etc.,fas the case may be.

The several contactors 22 are connected to the segments of a transmitting distributor and as the several -feeler levers Il are permitted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction under the inuence of'theinindividual springs 118, those v ci them whose sensing pins I6 encounter Vvlidded apertures in the tape Il are unobstructed and permitted to rotate in a counterclockwise direc` tion to an extent that their associated contactorsr 22 will be enabled to engage the lowermost contact screws 23 obtaining corresponding"cur-rent characteristic to associate' with their respective transmitting distributor segments while, -on the other hand, those of the feeler levers Il Whose sensing pins IB do not encounter the de.- scribed liddedperforations but instead only imperforated areas in the tape l1 are not permitted tovrotate in a counterclockwise Ydirection to-this extentsince their vsensing pins IS are thereby obstructed-causing theirvassociated contactors 22 toremain in engagement Awith the uppermost ones ofthe'contact screws indicated 2li supplying :to their =respectivegdistributor ysegments curcam device, both practices being well-known to those acquainted in printing telegraphy.

Incision marked tapes i1 is prepared in an apparatus such as that illustrated in the abovementioned copending U. S. application Serial No. 274,811 and in its preparation the feed holes 25 are preferably fully perforated as illustrated in Figa butthe holes representing the marking indices of the perforated code combination are made by producing approximately part-circular cuts in the region of each marking index by means of a cutting or punching tool especially designed to produce this result, then permitting jthe .partially severed or lid portion to resume its original p-os'itionand remain attached to the body yof the tape by means of that narrow tongue by which the incision :falls short of being a com- Y plete circular cut.

For purposes of sensing the prepared forms as vby means of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 andjthe presenceof the lids, tabs, or ilaps constitutes -no inter-ference. VCertain advantages rent potential of` the type associated with said Asmay `be observed iromFig, the code combination associated with -each'rsignal is' arranged in a transversekalignmentupon -thetape il.

-During each cyclic Voperation of the apparatus illustra-ted in Fig. 1, thefseveral sensing levers l i are permitted tocome into engagement with theV tapeas describedand following each such cyclic operation, the tape His advanced -a distance corresponding-to the linear distance between :two transverse code combinations of the tape,-Fig.-4. 111e tape i] vis Vfedleftwardlyas viewed `in lligs.

1 and ;3 'through-theengagementlwith -a row of .feed perforationgs 25 of :a `sprocket wheel 26 having appropriatelgv'f*spaced pin teeth and l,carried upon'l a sprocket feedshaftfZl which is rotated in a 'counterclockwise direction in step-by-step manner when the detented ratchet wheel 2&- integraliy associated therewith has its teethjsuccessively, engaged bythe reciprocating pavvl 2%.

In moving 'across Vthe tape-sensing area-pf the ap-v paratus-,thetape Il is supported upon a plane surfaced platform 2li-,which may be. augmented obtained in the improved manner of control form preparation .are enumerated in the abovementioned-copending application and these more thanoset the Vslight inconvenience .in feeding or threadingthe control for-m through the tape advancing .auxiliary apparatus. Such interference may be foundas for example in the slight frictional conflict between the tabs or flaps Iand a rhold-down plate which is provided aboveV the sensingy fingers to cooperate with the latter by bracing the, adjacent areas of the form.

Under known practice; hold-down plates are Y provided with .circular holes somewhat larger by confinement guides, ,etc,(not shown) Atogdi- Vrect' the-course-lofgthe tapa. and :which is *suitably cut out to admit protrusion ofnsaid sprocket Wheel 2 5 as Iwell as :theprobing pins ithl VFeed pawl 251 is carried -uponpne arm 310i a leverlpivoted ongshaft i 2 and'urgecl; in a counterclcckWise-direction by Aan operatingtspring :3 3 as are the setofj-eelerjlevers :Il bysthelrindividual springs it. Also pawl 29 hasv a downwardly :extending arm 32 which is engaged by the common Yreturn bail 33 when-thelatter member is cyclif cally moved vtowards the left vbut 'shortly yafter it has engaged theextremitiespfarm t4. As may be noticed from a comparisonpf the Lprojecting extremity of Varm 32 and those offarms Moi the sensing levers, the latter-extend, before engagementgby bail blade 3 3, somewhat lfarther toward the right thando'es the former. ET herebyis assured that the se nsii ogy pins i'i` are withdrawn from the tape ilfbefore the shaft lggisrotatecl" l,togadvagnce the tape I linjaleftwarddirection across the platform The reciprocationrof common return -bail .a3 is cyclically. executed eitherthrough fthe actuation'of an operating perforation in any position.

in-diameter than are the probing pins and-overlying the proximity ofeach one Aof the Asaid pins i6 in` order .that the surrounding Vmetal portion ofthe plateniay constitute a backing or support `to-the tape-to prevent the tape from becoming torn, frayed, or from yielding due flaps kmay' be'permitted'to rise Vwhen deflected byla sensing;pin` I, .such yas the .one illustrated Vin Fig.V 3, and since any .lidor Vflap .thus`.dis

placed by a sensing pinrnay, .due to the characteristics of the .material from which the form il is prepared, fail toresume its original condition, a'mpl e clearance must .be ,provided in. hold-down elements for fixtures to permit said flaps' .or Y.tabs which lmay not' ,return to their. prone position, sufficient clearance to avoid interference and the consequent possibility of jamming orftear'ing ofthe tape. f

fAccordinglyfth'e yhold-down plate 5L' Fig. .2, is "mache .of a relatively ,rigid rectangular plate 'having the .'secu'rement holes .52 through which pass Lthabinding screws53r for anchoring said plate .sa 'between the 'supporting Block -54 and the bracing .block '5S-of Vthe .assembly,`.Fig. 3. Plate l5I .extends horizontally Va short distance ina leftward directionas lviewinl Figs. '1 and 3 andlis .thenb'entsharplydownwardagain sharp-A wall 55. The foremost wall 5l is parallel with the trailing wall 5E, extending longitudinally of the connecting wall 58 between the two upright walls, there are milled out certain sections overlying associated ones of the feeler lever arms l5 and their integrally formed sensing pins lli. The milled out sections associated with the several ieeler pins are indicated individually in Fig. 2 by the reference characters El, 62, 63, 64 and 55. These channeled passageways extend throughout the lengths ofV the bottomwall 58 and also partway up the two upright walls 55 and lilas may be seen in Fig. 3.

By providing ample clearance in said Vmilledout sections throughout the length of the hold-p` down plate 5l over the proximity :that may be traversed by each one of the tabs ork flaps of the tape, it is rendered Ypractically impossible for the body of any one of the tabs to encounter the metallic parts of the hold-down plate 5l'. Each :1"

one of the longitudinal passageway spaces 6I to $5 is of such width as to marginally clearthe width of the tabs of form ll. Yet some metal intervenes between each one of the clearances 6| to 65 in the form of thin wall partitions Vsuch as indicated 65 serving the purpose of backing those areas of the control form l1 which intervene adjacent code marking positions.A

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to a specifically contemplated embodiment, it is to be understood that numerous modications and variations4 may be incorporated without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended to be limited by the particulars of the foregoing s,

detailed specification nor by the specific illustrations in the accompanying drawing except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a form sensing apparatus, an intermittent motion means, a set of tape sensing levers spring impelled toward the surface of a control form and withdrawnby said means, a form advancing mechanism cyclically actuated by said means, and a hold-down platefor backing said form in the proximity of engagement with said set of tape sensing levers comprising an element having extending channels longitudinally of said form.

2. In 'combination with a set of feeler `levers 2 comprising a plurality of parallelly arranged pivoted elements, a probing pin associated with each one of said elements, a form supporting platform, said probing pins being in transversev alignment with an area of said platform, means s adjacent said area comprising a metalelement f bent'to form a backing wall and provided thereat with grooves longitudinal of the form for passing therethrough portions of said form raised by said probing pins.

3. In combination with an apparatus for sens- 4. In combination, an apparatus for sensing and advancing a longitudinal form having flap formations, aV backingV member comprising a tions to afford backing to said form between said nap formations.

5.- In a form sensing apparatus, a set of tape .sensing elements individually impelled toward a ing and advancing a longitudinal formY havingsemicircular incisions so as to afford trailing flap formations, a backing member comprising a sheet metal element coextensive withrthe width of said form and bent to provide a channel wall reinforcement, said channel wall having grooves in a direction parallel to the movement of said form, said grooves` being of width to encompass v land align longitudinally with said flap formation of said form.

central form, a form vadvancing mechanism, means to cyclically actuate said mechanism, and a hold-'down plate for backing said form in the proximity of engagement with said set of sensin elements comprising a channel member presented across said form having grooves parallel to the direction of movement of said form.

6. In combination, a set of pivoted feeler levers parallelly arranged and having associated probing pins, said pins being in transverse alignment within a predetermined probing area, means for advancing a control form across said probing area so as to present successively transverse portions of said form for probing, and a backing` member for supporting said form adjacent said probing area comprising a metal element providing a transverse channel having longitudinal grooves for receiving ap portions of said form deflected by said probing pins.

7. In combination, an apparatus for sensing and advancing a strip having lidded apertures, a backing member comprising an element extending across the width of said strip, said element providing longitudinal grooves in a direction parallel to the movement of said strip, said 4grooves being arranged to align with said lidded apertures, said element providing intermediate said grooves rib sections to afford backing to said strip between said lidded apertures.

8. In a tape supportingl means for automatic signaling apparatus, a plate member positioned adjacent the surface of the tape and'having a plurality of open-ended slots therein, said slots being substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the tape and located in the forward part of said plate with respect to said direction of travel. Y l

9. In a tape feeding mechanism, a plate member having a plurality of spaced bar members associated with the forward part thereof for supporting the tape during the feeding operation, said bar members being positioned adjacent the surface of the tape and substantially parallel to the direction of travel thereof. i

10. In a tape feeding mechanism, a pluralit y of bar members positioned adjacent the surface of the tape for supporting said tape during the feeding operation, said bar members being substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the tape and spaced apart with respect to each other.

11. InV a tape supporting means for printing telegraph apparatus, a plate member having its real` edge rounded off at the point of entrance of the tape and having a plurality of bars associated with the forward `part thereof, said bars being substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the tape and spaced apart with respect to each other. Y

. EDWARD S. LARSON.

EDWIN J. SKEPPSTROM. 

